New Members Information Booklet All Stars Martial Arts Academy Head Office Virginia Park Business Estate, North Drive, 10/236-262 East Boundary Road, East Bentleigh, Victoria 3165 Phone 03 9579 0800 Email: [email protected] Website: www.allstarsdefence.com.au Like us on Facebook “All Stars Martial Arts Academy – Head Office East Bentleigh” Follow us on Instagram “allstars_martialarts_bentleigh” - Page 1 of 37 – V1.2019 Website: www.allstarsdefence.com.au / Email: [email protected] / Ph: (03) 9579 0800 Table of Contents Front Page ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Our Values & Ethics ........................................................................................................................................................... 3 Karate in Daily Life ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 Dojo Ettiquette .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Student Creed ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 12 Dojo Rules .................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Code of Conduct................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Obligations of Students & Parents .................................................................................................................................. 11 Our Lineage ..................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Zen Do Kai & Raffaelle Lanciana ..................................................................................................................................... 15 What is a Sensei? ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 Our Story & Head Instructor Rod Catterall ..................................................................................................................... 17 How To Tie Your Uniform ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Karate Rank Progression ................................................................................................................................................. 19 Muay Thai / Boxing Rank Progression ............................................................................................................................ 20 MMA Rank Progression ................................................................................................................................................... 21 Teaching Titles, Patches & Uniforms .............................................................................................................................. 22 Uniform & Belt Meanings ............................................................................................................................................... 23 Club Shop ........................................................................................................................................................................ 24 School Holiday Program .................................................................................................................................................. 25 Club Programs ................................................................................................................................................................. 26 FAQ / Information ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Japanese Terms for Karate .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Muay Thai Terminology .................................................................................................................................................. 33 Club Locations ................................................................................................................................................................. 35 - Page 2 of 37 – V1.2019 Website: www.allstarsdefence.com.au / Email: [email protected] / Ph: (03) 9579 0800 Our Values & Ethics Karate training builds character. It makes one a better human being. Most people are familiar with the rigorous physical training endured by karate students, particularly in the early days of the art, in Okinawa, Japan and Hawaii. Despite the seemingly superhuman feats of some karate practitioners, physical conditioning and demonstrations represent only the most basic level of training. Because of the tremendous danger posed by a well-trained fist, the teachers of old were extremely careful in selecting their students. A prospective student might be forced to endure numerous rejections, insults and even physical attacks from the teacher before he was considered for acceptance. Once accepted, he might then have to endure months or years of menial chores followed by gruelling and monotonous basic training exercises. A student could expect to spend at least three years on the first kata (form or sequence of movements). All this was designed to test the student's patience and determination. Moreover, it ensured that the student would develop sound basics -- something that is overlooked far too often in today's fast-paced world where even young children are awarded black belts! Naturally, a high percentage of students quit out of sheer frustration. The system was designed to eliminate hot-tempered and impatient students before they could learn the more dangerous aspects of karate. In addition, students were constantly taught ethics in the form of sayings or stories that were handed down from generation to generation. Courtesy One of the most well-known sayings is that "karate begins and ends with courtesy." On the surface level, we observe that each kata begins and ends with a bow. The student also bows when entering and leaving the Dojo and when greeting his Sensei and seniors. Bowing and similar formalities, however, represent only the outer form of courtesy. A karate student's courtesy must flow from the heart (kokoro) and extend to respect for life itself. As such, karate is never used for aggressive purposes but only for self-defence as a last resort. Restraint The greatest ethic of karate is to avoid its use. "Karate ni sente nashi" means that "there is no first attack in karate." As a defensive, unarmed art, karate is only used when there is no other alternative. The best strategy is to prevent or avoid a confrontation. When one is attacked unexpectedly, karate may be used but only to the extent necessary. If attacked by a single assailant, some of the teachers of old recommended the use of non-deadly techniques similar to those practiced in judo or jujutsu. The potentially lethal striking and kicking techniques of karate were reserved for attacks by armed or multiple assailants. "Karate ni senti nashi" means more than ‘not attacking first’. By such as simple definition, a karate practitioner could simply wait for an attack and deliver a deadly counter-attack. Karate students are taught to hold back their fists when angry and to ensure that they are calm and clear-headed when forced into a defensive situation. Zuiho Mutsu, who visited Hawaii in 1933 along with Kamesuke Higashionna, was quoted as saying that "a fist in the pocket is the best place for it." Hawaii's Kenpo pioneer James Mitose described the fist as a "treasure in the pocket." Just as a sword is best kept in its scabbard (saya), so too is a fist best withheld, or kept in the pocket. - Page 3 of 37 – V1.2019 Website: www.allstarsdefence.com.au / Email: [email protected] / Ph: (03) 9579 0800 Determination When the situation calls for it, a karate practitioner will commit oneself wholeheartedly to the cause of justice, whether directed toward their own defence or the protection of others. Gichin Funakoshi, one of the Okinawans most responsible for the introduction of karate to mainland Japan, and the founder of the Shotokan form of karate, wrote that "true Karate-Do is this: that in daily life, one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice." Shoshin Nagamine, founder of the Matsubayashi-Ryu form of Shorin-Ryu wrote "the dojo is the place where courage is fostered and superior human nature is bred through the ecstasy of sweating in hard work." Karate in Daily Life The goal of being able to defend oneself is limited.